PAX COMMENTS ABOUT 'SOMETHING EXTENDING FROM THE WING.' FLCS CLR THE RWY TO INSPECT.

Narrative

FLT WAS SITTING ON THE RWY 18L AND HAD JUST RECEIVED A TKOF CLRNC FROM TOWER; AT THE SAME TIME; A FLT ATTENDANT CALLS THE COCKPIT ON THE INTERPHONE TO INFORM THE CREW THAT: 'A PAX LOUDLY MADE A COMMENT THAT SOMETHING OUT OF ORDINARY WAS EXTENDING FROM THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE R WING.' THE TKOF ROLL HAD NOT STARTED. FLT INFORMS THE TWR THAT IT CANNOT ACCEPT THE CLRNC AND THAT IT MUST EXIT THE RWY. FLT INFORMS THE TWR THAT ASSISTANCE IS NOT REQUIRED AND THAT THEY ARE CHKING A PROB OUT. FLT EXITS THE RWY. THE ACFT IS RELOCATED ON A TXWY NEAR THE END OF RWY 18L. FO GOES INTO THE CABIN TO CHK 'WHAT IS HANGING DOWN FROM THE TRAILING EDGE;' DISCOVERS THAT IT IS THE OUTBOARD LNDG LIGHT WHICH IS IN THE EXTENDED POS; INFORMS THE PAX OF SUCH; AND RETURNS TO THE COCKPIT. FLT RETURNS TO THE RWY AND CONTINUES WITH THE ORIGINAL FLT PLAN. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. THE ONLY REASON THAT I AM WRITING TO NASA IS THAT THE INDUSTRY IS UNDER SUCH SCRUTINY THAT CREWS HAVE BECOME SOMEWHAT PARANOID AND WRITE ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING UP IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.